Sydney superstar Lance Franklin will be sweating on the Match Review Officer's report after collecting Gold Coast stopper Sam Collins with a high bump during the Swans' 49-point win at Carrara on Saturday night.

While the Harbour City side was able to get back to winning ways after a nightmare showing in last season's grand final, the eight-goal victory was soured after the microscope again fell on Franklin following another head-high shot.

After proving uncharacteristically silent during Sydney's hefty 81-point loss to Geelong on the game's biggest stage, Franklin started his 2023 campaign with a veritable vengeance, slotting two goals within the first 10 minutes of play.

However, after making contact with Collins' head late in the piece, Buddy's night was bracketed with the beginnings of another nervous wait.

Though Collins was initially taken from the newly-named Heritage Bank Stadium for a head injury assessment (HIA), the moustachioud defender was able to return to the field of play, a fact that will likely have the superstar spearhead breathing easier.

Yet, after opting to bump rather than corral or tackle, Franklin will be at the mercy of MRO Michael Christian.

With the MRO matrix set to determine Franklin's intentions, as well as the point of contact and the impact, it remains to be seen whether the sharpshooter will be asked to pay a fine or cool his heels on the sidelines.

Should Christian deem the impact between the aforementioned pair as low, Franklin will be fined, however, if his clumsy bump is deemed to have met the markers of medium contact, the former Hawk will miss next Sunday afternoon's clash against his old side.

Franklin is no stranger to his current predicament, having gained Christian's attention in 2021 for a pair of shirtfront bumps on then Power backman Jarrod Lienert and Carlton's Nic Newman respectively.

While both incidents resulted in fines, Swans head coach John Longmire was content to state that his talisman "absolutely" needed to change the way he attacked contests.

Franklin also drew the ire of officials last year after making contact with field umpire Paul Rebeschini during Round 6 of last season.

The forward's latest incident came just hours after Demons dasher Kysaiah Pickett also found himself in hot water for a lunging bump on Bulldog Bailey Smith.

Should Franklin be rubbed out for the Swans' Round 2 clash against Hawthorn at the SCG, it would likely see Franklin's career close without one last outing against the club that drafted him back in 2004.

The now 36-year-old featured on 182 occasions for the Hawks between 2005 and 2013, slotting 580 goals, as well as collecting a pair of Coleman and premiership medals.